Divisional Finals set following Saturday action in #KiaCHLeCup
Round 3 was a one and done Saturday with eight matchups on the docket:
Saginaw Spirit 8 vs. Sarnia Sting 6
📽 @d_katic27 is moving us on to Round 4 of the #KiaCHLeCup after an 8-6 win over @StingHockey. Here are the final moments from today’s contest. pic.twitter.com/B21OId7fAd
— Saginaw Spirit (@SpiritHockey) December 12, 2020
Saturday action opened with a barnburner as a pair of OHL rivals combined for 14 goals with the Spirit ultimately coming out on top with an 8-6 edge versus the Sting. An eventful first period saw Carolina Hurricanes first rounder Ryan Suzuki tally twice for the Spirit while team representative Danny Katic also got in on the action to help carry a 3-2 advantage after 20 minutes. Suzuki later added one more to make it a hat-trick en route to the victory.
Medicine Hat Tigers 3 vs. Hamilton Bulldogs 0
Moving on: @tigershockey & @WHLGiants to represent WHL in Round 4 of @CHLHockey Memorial eCup presented by @KiaCanada. #KiaCHLeCup
DETAILS 🎮 | https://t.co/ynkmyVtCTk pic.twitter.com/Ex20AmgneH
— The WHL (@TheWHL) December 13, 2020
The first of two shutouts on the day, the Tigers came away with a 3-0 victory over the Bulldogs in which team representative Lukas Svejkovsky opened the scoring in what later counted as the game winner before teammates Corson Hopwo and Bryan Lockner also lit the lamp for the winning side.
Vancouver Giants 5 vs. North Bay Battalion 1
Another win! Trevor Longo snagged a big win in the #KiaCHLeCup to move on to round 4! pic.twitter.com/OlyBuO5KZf
— Vancouver Giants (@WHLGiants) December 12, 2020
Grabbing an early goal from San Jose Sharks prospect Brandon Coe, the early lead wasn’t enough for the Battalion as the Giants stormed back with five goals of their own including a two-tally effort from Connor Horning to help the Trevor Longo-led squad to a 5-1 final.
Mississauga Steelheads 6 vs. Rouyn-Noranda Huskies 3
The Fish swim on! 🐟
Ty Collins (@tycollins77) and the @OHLSteelheads take a 6-3 win over the @HuskiesRn to advance to Round 4 of the #KiaCHLeCup!
Watch 🎥: https://t.co/gXE0XOmJer
Bracket 🏒: https://t.co/BlJANVYUcU pic.twitter.com/cUQAIijC1G— Ontario Hockey League (@OHLHockey) December 12, 2020
Getting two-goal efforts from Max Dodig and Nicholas Canade, Saturday went swimmingly for the Steelheads led by Ty Collins in coming away with a 6-3 win over the Huskies to advance to the next round.
Baie-Comeau Drakkar 5 vs. Sudbury Wolves 0
BLANCHISSAGE! Gabriel Belley-Pelletier domine complètement le représentant des @Sudbury_Wolves par la marque de 5-0!
La route continue pour Gab! Il disputera la finale de la division Stinger ce lundi 🎮. #KiaLCHeCoupe pic.twitter.com/0xKN6hTZWM
— 🦀Drakkar de Baie-Comeau🦀 (@DrakkarBAC) December 12, 2020
With Gabriel Belley-Pelletier at the controls, the Drakkar cruised to a 5-0 victory over the Wolves to mark the second perfect game of the day. Among the offensive producers for Baie-Comeau was Antoine Rochon, who picked up a pair of tallies.
Acadie-Bathurst Titan 5 vs. Peterborough Petes 4 (OT)
Dylan Champagne completes the comeback and advances to Round 4 with an overtime win over Shawn Spearing of the @PetesOHLhockey!
Dylan Champagne vient de l'arrière et se qualifie pour la 4e ronde avec une victoire en prolongation contre Shawn Spearing des Petes!#KiaCHLeCup pic.twitter.com/JRIWjUJv7Z
— Titan Acadie-Bathurst (@ABTitan) December 12, 2020
Extra time was needed to decide a winner in the showdown between the Titan and Petes that ultimately saw Acadie-Bathurst led by Dylan Champagne prevail with a 5-4 decision courtesy of Mathieu Desgagnes’ game winner. The contest also saw a pair of Titan skaters finish with two-goal outings including Ben Allison and Bennett MacArthur, whose second goal came with just 8.8 seconds remaining to send it to sudden death.
Saint John Sea Dogs 5 vs. Lethbridge Hurricanes 2
A wonky connection couldn't stop our man Riley Bezeau as he coasts to a 5-2 win over Justin Hall and the @WHLHurricanes. Thanks to Justin and the Canes for the game!
Top 8?
Top 8.We'll await to see who our next opponent is. #KiaCHLeCup pic.twitter.com/tHE453AUFy
— Saint John Sea Dogs (@SJSeaDogs) December 12, 2020
Led by Riley Bezeau, the Sea Dogs are off to the next round after taking down the Hurricanes with a 5-2 win highlighted by a two-goal performance from San Jose Sharks prospect Vladislav Kotkov.
Erie Otters 5 vs. Edmonton Oil Kings 2
And now onto the elite 8! @9Hoff1 moves on to the fourth round by defeating Jalen Luypen. GG @EdmOilKings! Now to turn our sights to the @SJSeaDogs! We've seen those guys before…#KiaCHLeCup pic.twitter.com/4MvmHgs7fu
— Erie Otters 🦦 (@ErieOtters) December 12, 2020
Santa is seemingly unstoppable as the Otters led by Brendan Hoffmann, who again suited up as Saint Nick, downed the Oil Kings in a 5-2 final. Once again, Hoffmann was among the goal scorers, netting the eventual winner Saturday.